Social, economic & environmental drivers in the spread of antimicrobial resistance in Ecuador

Social, economic and environmental drivers in the spread of antimicrobial resistance in Ecuador
Jay Graham PhD, MBA, MPH
Assistant Professor in Residence
Environmental Health Sciences
UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Tuesday, Oct. 19th, 2021

The emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance among humans, animals and the environment poses an enormous threat to human health worldwide. Current evidence suggests that widespread dependency on antibiotics and complex interactions between humans, animals and the environment, have contributed to the propagation and spread of resistant organisms. This presentation will cover some environmental issues that contribute to antimicrobial resistance, including water and soil related factors, animal husbandry and wastewater and irrigation water management, and food safety, with examples drawn from an NIH-funded study in Ecuador.

Jay Graham is an Assistant Professor in Residence in the Environmental Health Sciences Division. Jay and his research team use molecular approaches to study the emergence, transmission and maintenance of pathogens and antibiotic resistance in community settings by incorporating molecular data into population-level analyses. His research is also focused on understanding the genetic mechanisms that enable the spread of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae in human and animal populations and the environment.